WHO confirms 2,501 Mpox cases in October: A look at global spread and risk

New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday reported 2,501 new confirmed mpox cases, including 12 deaths, across 44 countries in October 2025. The global health agency warned that all clades of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate, with the risk of sustained community transmission if outbreaks are not rapidly contained.

According to the WHO situation report, 21 African countries reported active transmission over six weeks (October 12–November 23), with 1,734 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda recorded the highest number of cases, while Mali reported mpox for the first time.

Outside Africa, new imported cases of clade Ib MPXV were reported among travellers in Belgium, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom, with 43 new cases identified across six WHO regions between September 5 and November 24. Of these, 24 cases in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Western Pacific had no recent international travel, indicating local transmission. Countries now experiencing community transmission of clade Ib MPXV include Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the US.

The report noted that half of the travel-related cases (22) were documented among men who have sex with men, while other cases were linked to travel or secondary contacts such as household members and sexual partners. The WHO assessed the public health risk from clade Ib MPXV as moderate for men with new or multiple partners, and low for the general population.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a viral infectious disease that spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact. Common symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rashes, and back pain.

IANS